Immunomodulation in mice by Bacillus megaterium and its dependence on culture conditions.
Mice pretreated with Bacillus megaterium ATCC 33085 grown on TSA medium developed a significant increase in primary antibody response to SRBC. Conversely, pretreatment with a spore suspension harvested from nutrient Agar medium decreased this antibody response. A suspension of organisms grown on a defined, phosphorus-deficient medium (P-Medium) had no effect. Otherwise, only the spore suspension was able to enhance the contact sensitivity to dinitrofluorobenzene. Peritoneal leucocyte numbers were increased by inoculation with both TSA-cultured bacteria and the spore suspension, but not by P-Medium-cultured bacteria. Administration of both the spore suspension and P-Medium-cultured bacteria decreased the in vitro phagocytosis by peritoneal adherent cells. These immunomodulator properties are discussed in relation to characteristics of the strain tested.
D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000276:immunology*; D003470:Culture Media; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000139:chemically induced; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010587:Phagocytosis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000172:deficiency; D012756:Sheep
D003470:Culture Media; D010758:Phosphorus; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene